Golf hole cup



July 7, 1931. R Q CROQKER 1,813,696

GOLF HOLE CUP Filed Feb.A 13. 1930 Patented July 7, 1931 i" i l i vfUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH o. OROOKER, or TOLEDO, OHIO, AssrenonOF ONE-HALF To s. CHILTON onooxrzn,r

` or" BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS l GOLF HOLE CUP This invention relates todevicesdesigned for. use in connection with the so-called holes formedin golf course, into which the balls are to be driven.

In order that these holes may be circular and of a standard diameter, ithas4 been customary to line each hole with'a cylindrical metal cup whichhas a standard external diameter of 4% and is setV down into the groundto a point at which its top edge is 4from one half an inch toapproximately an inch below the level of the adjacent Asurface of theground. i These metal cups should be, and usuallyare set below thesurface to'this A extent for severalreasons, principally to preventpossibility of engagement of the ball with the cup rimr in a manner tocause it to be deiiected and prevented from rolling into the cup, and,also,beoause the ball, when it zo enters the cup, is liable to strikethe inner surface thereof and bound out of the hole.

On the other hand, when the metal cup is set at Va substantial distancebelow' the groundlevel, the rim of hole is likely to crumble away tosuch an extent that the entrance thereto is considerably enlarged bevondthe standard diameter, so that the ball is frequently deflected into thehole when it would not enter it if the entrance was of standard Adiameter at the surface ofv the ground. Consequently, the extent towhich the metal cup may be set below the surface is limited.

Also, it is usually difficult for the` golfer to i determine the line inwhich the ball should be putted, as the'exact'looation of the hole islikely to be indistinct and is particularlyindistinct from positionsnear the edges of the putting green, so that it is customary for thegolfer, when putting, to have the location of the hole indicated in somemanner by aperson, who stands close to the hole, but a person is notalways available for this purpose, and many golfers do not wish to haveany one standing in the line of the shot, or moving across this line, asthey believe that itv prevents perfect VAconcentration on the putt.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple and effective meansvadapted toy be employedinconnectien withthe llslllillfor ystandard golfholeoup, whiohwillprevent flected from, or to rebound out of the hole.;,Also'to provide a means vwhich will enable the hole to be yreadily seenfrom points whereit is visible atall, so that Yit will be unnecessaryfor another person to indicate its position to the putter. I

Iaccomplish these objects byproviding a cylindrically formed sheet offibrous material, preferably paper of light color, which is adapted tobe tightly fittedinto the metal cup and to extend close to the Vgroundlevel, so

that it will maintain the diameter of the hole at the standard specifiedin the'rules of golf,

lwithout in any way obstructing the entrance of the ball thereto.` Y

For a more complete disclosure of the inventionreference is made tothefollowing Vspecification in connection with the acoompanying j drawings,in which Fig. lis a vertical, central sectional view of a golf coursehole provided with an embodiment of. the invention. i

Fig. 2 is aview, partly in elevation and partly in section, ofja golfcup lining embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. n'

In the drawings, a cylindrical metal golf cup a of common form,isfindicated, the external -diameter thereof corresponding to the'standard diameter of the golf course hole, viz, 4% inches, said cupbeing set into a holeformed in the ground, by means of a cylindricaltool of the same external diameter, so that the topedge, or rim ofthecup is at a distance, approximating, in practice, to threeffourths of aninch, below the'level of the ground. surface. The cup is providedwiththe usual perforated bottom b and a socket c for receiving the staffof an indicatingV flag. i

According to my invention I provide a lining Z for the top portion ofthe Cupand the hole in which it is set, which consists of acylindrically formed sheet of fibrous material, Which is practicallynonresilient, preferably Waterproofed paper of sufiicient thickness togive it the necessary stability for the purpose. Sai-d lining comprisesa lower portion c'l, the external diameter Aof which corresponds to theinternal diameter of the cup, so that said portion may be closely fittedWithin the cnp,jas shown, land* a top portion (Z2, which is adapted toJrotrude beyond, or above the top edge of Jthe cup and is outwardlyoffset from the lovver portion (Zby means of a shoulder (53 so that itsxexternal diameter corresponds'to, or is'practically the saine y as the lstandard diameter `of l the golf hole and ,consequently the` same as vthe A ex- 'tiernal-dianiseter of'v the cupa. f

` Thelengthfof thetop portion dfmay. be

Varied.according'to thedistance which theV 'cup is ".to'jbetsetbeloivthe lsurface vlof the groundpand Willbe slightly less than thisvvdistance, soiliat, when the lining is inserted inthe 'cup until its'Yexternal annular abu'tl .1 5 .l i nient formed by shoulder cl3 -isseated on the t'op edge,`ior rimofthe'icup, the top edge o f Ytheportion (Z2 Willbe'asliort distance below` '(prcferably' atleastoneleighth of an inch below) lthe ground suiface. As the material ofNwhich the lining Aiss'preferaby lformed is ofsubstantialthickness', as,for eXample,`ap fproxiinately' the samethickness as that o f 'thesheetmetallof which the cupV is formed, the top edge portion-fof thetopkportion Z2 is internally taperedgto a sharp e'dge,.so,that the internaldiameter of tlie'vlining atitstop edge practically the same as itsexternal diam- A'eter of not less, therefore, than the standard diameterof the zholeand Will not act to contractfthe hole at the surface of theground edge, 'even if it-vvere extended flush With the surface, andconsequently Will not `obstruct entrance yof the ball into the hole.v Bythe moulding' Operation by which the internally tapered edge'sat ythelip of the lining is formed, ,this portion may be slightly flared, soVthatyvlienthe lining is forced into the vhole the outei-'sides of thetep portion ofthe lining Will hug Acloselyto'v the sides f the Ihole atits top.'Y 1 l i 'Y As thus arranged, the portion ofthe hole abjoyethemetal cup vill be lined Withconr parativelyflsnft, or yielding,practically nonresilientniaterial, which, if struck byfa golfjba'lhjyill not materially .tend to cause the 'ball to l'reboifind, fasvwould be vthe case if .it ist" el; any pfortin of the metal Icup, and,in many instances, `even ,the soil directly above the lsarne',t-ime, the=topportion/df2 acts to prventtlfl'e soilaroun-d the side of thelib-1921MB@ .Slfac ,from Ciulnblng ,and .fallfngintp the fhlo'le, thuspreventingfthe -hole froin'b'ecoming'enlarged at Iitsl entrance-beyondtheJ standard ldiameter of filwinch'es, 'determined thehinternaldiameter of the paper lining, at its top edge and the diameter of thehole in the ground above it, which is practically the saine.

The exact length of the paper cylinder is unimportant, but is preferablysuch that,

Whe nin position in the metal= cup, it Will eX- tend `'nearly' toY thespider which supports the socket C, and its bottom edge portion ispreferably provided With means for fric- .iionally rengaging the innersurface ofthe be effective, apreferable construction .con`

sistsin providing thelower edgeportion of `the'* ,cylinder,with aslightly outturned lip 254, which may be provided with apluralityofsli-tsfd, adapted to permit l.the-lip to be slightly collapsed Whenthelining isinserted, but Whichlwill not seriously` detractfrom thelforceof the frictional engagement.

As the paper lining is light in shade and Icc'inpletely covers allY thatisordinarily visi- .bleof the'sides of the hole andzcup, ,the golfervkWill .be `enable-dto seeitlieposition of the hole Without'diflicultyfronrany-p0sition on the ,ordinary puttinggreemso that it iWill notbenecessary, or, lesirable to. provide other .indieating meansthenefor.`-Y r d i By making thelining ofsuitably Waterproofed material, it lWilleiiectivelyavithstand moisture for a considerablelengthpftiine, so

that it `Will Abe ,unnecessary to renew it -with.

undesirable frequency .l/Vliile it i, generally considereddesirable toset the metalvcup .atleast three-fourths of an inch ibelow thegroundlevel, when .the above described p aper lining is ,notvreinployed, .withthe above described :lining the metal cup may gbe, and preferably is setsubstantially loiver thanfthe point above indicated, in which case Athelength of the top ,portion ofthe lining yvill lbe cerrespondinglyincreased. Bossibility of Y substantial rebcund of the ball after it,enters the liole is .thus avoided, enlargement ,of `the hole by thecrumbling of the soil is prevented, and awvhitetarget for the golferwhen putting is provided. Also, if the thin top edge tof the liningshould kbecome exposed, so thatiit Vwould be engaged the ball, as .thisyedge 4is soft V'and yielding, as compared with the 1rim of the metalcup, it would have little .or no tendency .tosdeiiect the ball from itscourse ,to fthe hole.

l claim: Y

l. In combination with acylindrical metal golf hole cup, .a lining.therefor and for the .top portion `lof .the hole infwhich the ,cup isplaced, 4vcomposed Vof cylindrically formed sheet'ef librous materialbfsuitable stiffness having one end portion thereof `fitted Within the topportion ofthe cup,.and the opposite end portion thereof protrudingbeyond the top edge of the cup, to line a portion of the hole directlythereabove.

2. Incoinbination With cylindrical metal golf hole cup of standardexternal diameter, a cylindrically formed paper lining having one endportion thereof fitted Within the cup and having its opposite endportion protruding beyond the top end of the cup, the external diameterof said protruding portion corresponding to the external diameter of thecup.

3. In combination With a cylindrical metal golf hole cup, a liningtherefor and for the top portion of the hole in which the cup is placed,composed of a cylindrically formed sheet of brous material of suitablestiffness having one end portion thereof fitted Within the top portionof the cup and provided With frictional engaging means for retaining ittherein, the opposite end portion of said lining protruding beyond thetop edge of the cup and having its external diameter corresponding tothe standard diameter of the golf hole.

4. In combination With a cylindrical metal golf hole cup, acylindricallining of fibrous sheet material having one end portionthereof closely fitted Within the top end portion of said cup and havingits oppositeend portion protruding for a substantial distance beyond thetop edge of said cup, a shoulder connecting said portions and seated onthe top edge of the cup, to hold the top end of said protruding portionat a predetermined level with relation to the cup, and said protrudingportion having its external diameter corresponding to the externaldiameter of the cup.

5. In combination With a cylindrical metal golf hole cup having astandard external diameter, a lining for said cup, and for the topportion of the hole in which it is placed, composed of a cylinder offibrous sheet material having one end portion thereof closely fittedWithin the top end portion of the cup and having its opposite endportion protruding beyond the top edge of the cup for a distanceslightly less than the distance which the cup is to be set beneath theground level, said portions of said lining having an external connectingshoulder engaged with the top edge of the cup and said protrudingportion having its external diameter corresponding to the externaldiameter of the cup.

6. A lining for a cylindrical metal golf hole Cup, and for the topportion ofthe hole in which the cup is placed, consisting of acylindrically formed sheet of fibrous material having its bottom portionadapted to be fitted Within the top end portion of the cup and havingits top portion internally tapered to a thin edge and adapted toprotrude beyond the top end of the cup, the external diameter of the topportion of the lining correspondinO to the external diameter of the cup.

A lining for a metal golf hole cup and the top portion of the hole inWhich it Ais placed consisting of a `sheet of stiff fibrous the upperend of said means.

have signed my v material formed to provide a main cylindrical portionadapted to be fitted Within the top portion of the cup and a cylindricalend portion adapted to protrude beyond the top end of the cup andhaving'an external diameter corresponding to the standard diameter ofthe golf hole, and an external shoulder intermediate said portionsadapted to seat against the top end of the cup.

8. A lining for a cylindrical metal golf hole cup, and for the topportion of the hole in Which the cup is placed, consisting of acylindrically formed sheet of fibrous material of suitable stiffnesshaving one end portion thereof adapted to be closely fitted Within thecup, said portion having a yieldable projection for frictionallyengaging the inner surface of the cup tending to prevent displacementthereof, the opposite end portion thereof being adapted to protrudebeyond thetop end of the cup, to determine Y the diameter of the hole inWhich it is placed.

9. A lining for a golf hole comprising a metal cylinder of standardexternal diameter adapted to be seated in the bottom of the hole and acylinder Vof stili', vvaterproofed paper,

also of standardexternal diameter, adapted to be seated on the top edgeof they metal cylinderV and'to extend therefrom into proximity With thetop of thel hole.

10. A golf cup device comprising a golf ball receiver including a mouthportion of flexible non-resilient material adapted to be inserted in agreen With the upper end of said month portion substantially flush Withthe surface of the green.

11. A golf cup device comprising a cylindrical housing, a cylindricalcup positioned therein, and a sleeve of flexible non-resilient ymaterialengaged in said housing and projecting above the upper end thereof.

12. A golf cup device comprising a golf ball receiver including a mouthportion constructed of flexible non-resilient material, and means forsupporting said mouth portion With the upper end thereof projectingabove In testimony whereof, I name to this specification.

RALPH C. CROGKER.

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